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Stinson to start for Orioles on Wednesday

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Stinson's solid relief 0:38

9/30/12: Josh Stinson enters in relief during the ninth and induces a pair of fly balls to work out of the inning

By Brittany Ghiroli
/
MLB.com |

BALTIMORE -- Right-hander Josh Stinson was in the Orioles' clubhouse on Tuesday afternoon, and the 25-year-old will be added to the team's 25-man roster and start Wednesday's series finale against Toronto.

Stinson -- who was in Baltimore over the weekend but never activated -- has made one Major League start, which came last year for the Milwaukee Brewers, in 20 career games. He was selected off waivers from Oakland on April 4 and is 0-2 with a 4.43 ERA during his career.

"I'm very excited," Stinson said. "Any time you get claimed, obviously the team sees something in you. And to be in the big leagues this fast, it is a great opportunity for me and I'm just going to try to take it and run with it."

Assigned originally to Triple-A Norfolk, Stinson made two starts for the Tides and allowed four runs (one earned) over 11 2/3 innings. Stinson pitched for Class A Frederick over the weekend after he wasn't needed in Baltimore, and he has been with that affiliate since.

"I found out last night, about 11 o'clock," Stinson said of the promotion, with the news coming from Frederick manager Ryan Minor. "Luckily I was still in the clubhouse, so I didn't have to go back. I guess [director of player development Brian Graham] gave him a call, and now I'm here."

Asked if he was surprised to get to the Majors so quickly, bypassing Norfolk's other candidates in Zach Britton and Freddy Garcia, Stinson -- who got up to 88 pitches in his last start -- said yes.

"I mean, originally, the first time I was claimed this spring [by the A's], I was sent to Double-A," he said. "So it's a surprise, but it's also -- I see it as an opportunity."

"We had some options there," manager Buck Showalter said of the decision, which relied heavily on input from Norfolk manager Ron Johnson and pitching coach Mike Griffin. "They thought [Stinson] was a tick more ready. They really like what's going on with Zach. Want to make sure the blister [on his pitching hand] is resolved. They think it is, he's had two good outings."

The team is expected to option a reliever to clear a spot for Stinson, with newest addition Alex Burnett the most likely choice.